Line英会話クラス
Lesson Plan June 13, 2025
Topic: Comparatives & Superlatives
In this lesson we will learn how to form and use the comparative and superlative forms of adjectives.
Section A
Words with one syllable
Comparative form; add -er
cheap —> cheaper
hard —> harder
Superlative form; add -est
cheap —> cheapest
hard —> hardest
Two-syllable words ending in -y
Comparative form; change -y to -ier
early —> earlier
lucky —> luckier
Superlative form; change -y to -iest
early —> earliest
lucky —> luckiest
Two or more syllables
Comparative form; use more …
expensive —> more expensive
boring —> more boring
Superlative form; use most …
expensive —> most expensive
boring —> most boring
Adverbs ending in -ly
Comparative form; use more …
quickly —> more quickly
simply —> more simply
Superlative form; use most …
quickly —> most quickly
simply —> most simply
Section B
After comparatives, you can use than.
The bus is cheaper than the train.
Before comparative forms, you can use much / a lot / far (= a lot) / a bit / a little / slightly
Taking a plane is much more expensive than the train.
Canada is far bigger than Mexico.
With these two-syllable adjectives, you can use -er / -est or more / most
simple / clever / gentle / friendly / quiet / narrow
Joanna is (friendlier / more friendly) than usual.
We usually use the before superlative forms.
Taking a plane is the fastest option.
He is one of the most interesting people I know.
The church is very old. It’s the oldest building in town. (= it is older than all the other buildings)
What is the longest river in the world?
Money is important, but it isn’t the most important thing in life.
Excuse me, where the nearest bank?
These adjectives have irregular forms
good —> better —> best
bad —> worse —> worst
far —> further / farther —> furthest
We can use a superlative form without a noun, if that noun has been mentioned already in the sentence.
Luke is a good player, but he isn’t the best in the team. (the best = the best player)
The film was very bad. I think it’s the worst I’ve ever seen. (the worst = the worst film)
A: What is the most unusual thing you've ever eaten?
B: The most unusual was probably bee larvae.
Lesson Notes
Words & Phrases
Do you sometimes get your eyes checked?
“Do you have your eyesight checked sometimes?”
“Do you get your vision tested occasionally?”
Comparatives & Superlatives
This is the rainiest June we’ve had in years.
This is the coldest winter we’ve had in a decade.
That was the busiest day in the shop all month.
Using Older / Elder / Eldest
“Older” is the correct comparative adjective to compare any two siblings’ ages. For example:
C is older than A. (24 > 23)
A is older than D. (23 > 21)
“Elder” is mainly used as a polite or formal adjective before a noun to describe an older family member, usually siblings, but not with “than” for comparison.
A is the elder sister of D. (correct)
You do NOT say “A is elder than D.” (incorrect)
“Eldest” is the superlative form and means the oldest sibling in the family.
C is the eldest sibling. (because C is 24, the oldest)
So the correct way to compare ages is always with “older” + than. Use “elder” only before nouns, never with “than.” Use “eldest” to show the oldest in the whole group.
